Like every other artist, I’ve read a thousand and one essays about AI. Often with despair. Often looking for others to despair alongside me.
But this is probably one of my favorites. Your writing is freaking stunning. I can’t wait for your screenplay to be out in the world and make art that, no doubt, will ruin me. It sounds brilliant. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for creating ❤️
I think at the center of these apologists — these people who worship the amalgamated corpse of human experience — is an insecurity about their own capacity for experience. They’re intimidated by the significance of the artist because they lack a perceived significance of their own, or at least aren’t secure enough in it to the point that any external instance of significance feels like a threat.
There’s poisonous comfort in not having to reckon with another human being, full of thoughts, feelings, dreams, galaxies, significance. The ideological lust towards robots is inseparable from the ideological lust towards slavery, automation, the existential complacency of not having to care about or acknowledge another human being.
In Germany, they say “Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt,” meaning “hope dies last,” meant to highlight the inevitability of the end of all things, which only strengthens the significance of holding fast to optimism, significance, and possibility. I think, Sophie, that hope being the last one standing has been made cosmically inevitable here. Thank you for this ❤️
This is really great. I'm working on an essay for my stack that gets at how AI can't replace friendship because it can't be irrational, meaning it can't love. That knowledge seems to be at the core of what you're getting at here, too.
Great article. I wrote a whole fiction book about this sentiment. The androids are made off of Ai algorithms in it.
“Mango Porcupine” a novel about a man in a future where androids have been given citizenship, realizes he doesn’t know a single other human being, and sets off to find one.
There’s such a deep sob in these words that I kept re-reading them, feeling every line with an intense emotional and intellectual catharsis—often getting choked by the sheer outpouring.
And yet, I do believe—unfortunately—that AI can now reproduce “the tremor in my voice,” and it's getting better at it day by day, sometimes even better than I can.
Still, the attitude you suggest—to choke the algorithm—feels essential for survival.
Thanks so much for your beautiful comment, Swarnadip. Here's to hoping that perfect imitations will never manage to evoke the same emotional response as the real real real version of us. ❤️
This is truly brilliant. You’ve changed my mind about everything. I thought it was hopeless to be a creative but AI is just all of us anyway. I never thought about it like that. AI only knows what we already know so of course it’s going to seem smart, if we asked everyone in the world at the same time for an answer, we’d get it. This screenplay sounds amazing and if you’re casting let me know haha! Thank you for this 😸🥹
I saw this right after clicking publish on my own (vastly inferior) essay on AI; it really feels like it's on all of our minds lately. Amazing writing and good luck on your screenplay!!
She was deep in her bag on this one. Every line cuts sharp and lands soft. It’s grief, clarity, theory, and love all braided into something only a real artist could make. She names what so many of us feel but couldn’t say. This is soul work, full stop.
Sophie, where to even begin... as my thoughts swirl and freeze around the conflicting emotions this piece evoked, I guess all I can do for now, is begin and end with, thank you.
Some terrific writing here! I’d definitely pay for a subscription if I had more consistent income coming in. Loved the commentary on souls, AI and Hotel Reverie. Good luck with the script from a fellow screenwriter!
Excellent and heartfelt. Humanity is a victim of its own species success.
FWIW, I've learned to pay attention to my instincts. I never liked Musk or his BS, and I want nothing to do with Ai-generated "art" nor have any interest in playing with any LLM. I suspect that somewhere down the road, people will wish they'd shunned Ai-generated "art" as they should have shunned Musk.
Exactly!! It's also statistically most likely to provide literally the most average answer so be you. Share your view and art. And haha - absolutely will do!
Like every other artist, I’ve read a thousand and one essays about AI. Often with despair. Often looking for others to despair alongside me.
But this is probably one of my favorites. Your writing is freaking stunning. I can’t wait for your screenplay to be out in the world and make art that, no doubt, will ruin me. It sounds brilliant. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for creating ❤️
Paige 🥹🥹🥹🥹 Thank you so much for this lovely comment x
Came here to say this 👆
This is a sensational piece or writing and I’d simply like to thank you for sharing it. It helps me understand my world more clearly.
I think at the center of these apologists — these people who worship the amalgamated corpse of human experience — is an insecurity about their own capacity for experience. They’re intimidated by the significance of the artist because they lack a perceived significance of their own, or at least aren’t secure enough in it to the point that any external instance of significance feels like a threat.
There’s poisonous comfort in not having to reckon with another human being, full of thoughts, feelings, dreams, galaxies, significance. The ideological lust towards robots is inseparable from the ideological lust towards slavery, automation, the existential complacency of not having to care about or acknowledge another human being.
In Germany, they say “Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt,” meaning “hope dies last,” meant to highlight the inevitability of the end of all things, which only strengthens the significance of holding fast to optimism, significance, and possibility. I think, Sophie, that hope being the last one standing has been made cosmically inevitable here. Thank you for this ❤️
This is really great. I'm working on an essay for my stack that gets at how AI can't replace friendship because it can't be irrational, meaning it can't love. That knowledge seems to be at the core of what you're getting at here, too.
Absolutely Brandon. All best of luck with your writing!
Great article. I wrote a whole fiction book about this sentiment. The androids are made off of Ai algorithms in it.
“Mango Porcupine” a novel about a man in a future where androids have been given citizenship, realizes he doesn’t know a single other human being, and sets off to find one.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jhguy/p/mango-porcupine-table-of-contents?r=h5khh&utm_medium=ios
There’s such a deep sob in these words that I kept re-reading them, feeling every line with an intense emotional and intellectual catharsis—often getting choked by the sheer outpouring.
And yet, I do believe—unfortunately—that AI can now reproduce “the tremor in my voice,” and it's getting better at it day by day, sometimes even better than I can.
Still, the attitude you suggest—to choke the algorithm—feels essential for survival.
Thanks so much for your beautiful comment, Swarnadip. Here's to hoping that perfect imitations will never manage to evoke the same emotional response as the real real real version of us. ❤️
Absolutely. Fingers crossed :)
This is truly brilliant. You’ve changed my mind about everything. I thought it was hopeless to be a creative but AI is just all of us anyway. I never thought about it like that. AI only knows what we already know so of course it’s going to seem smart, if we asked everyone in the world at the same time for an answer, we’d get it. This screenplay sounds amazing and if you’re casting let me know haha! Thank you for this 😸🥹
I saw this right after clicking publish on my own (vastly inferior) essay on AI; it really feels like it's on all of our minds lately. Amazing writing and good luck on your screenplay!!
I loved your piece, Staci. Thank you for letting me know! And appreciate you ❤️❤️
She was deep in her bag on this one. Every line cuts sharp and lands soft. It’s grief, clarity, theory, and love all braided into something only a real artist could make. She names what so many of us feel but couldn’t say. This is soul work, full stop.
❤️❤️ as you've said in the part, I'm here for “art shit”
Wow I hadn’t thought about how little bits of us already exist within these AI models. This is a really beautiful piece Sophie.
Thank you so much 🥹
cool script on an endless hot take
🤣
Sophie, where to even begin... as my thoughts swirl and freeze around the conflicting emotions this piece evoked, I guess all I can do for now, is begin and end with, thank you.
I see your artistry ❤️
Again, thank you Sophie.
Some terrific writing here! I’d definitely pay for a subscription if I had more consistent income coming in. Loved the commentary on souls, AI and Hotel Reverie. Good luck with the script from a fellow screenwriter!
Aw that's okay, Tara!! This comment made my day. Thank YOU.
Excellent read, Sophie. Bravo! AI couldn't have written this in a million years, and that's the point.
❤️
Excellent and heartfelt. Humanity is a victim of its own species success.
FWIW, I've learned to pay attention to my instincts. I never liked Musk or his BS, and I want nothing to do with Ai-generated "art" nor have any interest in playing with any LLM. I suspect that somewhere down the road, people will wish they'd shunned Ai-generated "art" as they should have shunned Musk.
Agreed, I think rebellion will strike eventually. Thanks so much for your comment as always Wyrd!
Up the rebellion!
Exactly!! It's also statistically most likely to provide literally the most average answer so be you. Share your view and art. And haha - absolutely will do!